SAMBA SENE and DIWAN

Wednesday 24 June 2026
Doors/bar 7:30pm and showtime 8pm
Tickets: £15 (general), £12 (usual concessions) at https://t-s.co/samb6

Members admission £10 available only at the door or email jb@stoneyport.uk with "EFC members booking" in the Subject. 

SAMBA SENE & DIWAN

Fronted by the charismatic Senegalese vocalist Samba Sene, the band Samba Sene & Diwan is an international collective united by a shared global outlook and a deep love of West African rhythm.

Their sound is an exuberant, dance-driven fusion: funky mbalax and Afrobeat grooves interwoven with flashes of ska and reggae.

(note: What is mbalax? Mbalax (pronounced mm-bal-akh) is a vibrant, high-energy genre of popular dance music from Senegal and The Gambia. In the Wolof language, the word literally translates to "accompaniment". Mbalax is defined by fast-paced syncopated percussion, call-and-response vocals, and sometimes by brass sections. Mbalax may be sung in Wolof, French, or English. All of these elements combine to make a quick beat and a bright, heavy tone full of deep drum beats and vibrant vocals).

So, expect original songs delivered with impassioned vocals, infectious guitar licks and a live energy that keeps the floor moving.

Born in Dakar, Senegal, Samba relocated to Scotland in 2000 and has been based in Edinburgh ever since. His singing and songwriting draw from a wide palette ... from traditional Senegalese music through to funk, rock, and ska, with influences including Baaba Maal (a formative mentor), Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Alpha Blondy, and Aswad. A very broad church then!

Samba's songs exploring love, equal rights and pure celebration are always upbeat, uplifting and created to be shared.

Exuberant, richly layered … (**** The Scotsman)
A vibrant rainbow of colourful beats and rhythms (***** Edinburgh Spotlight)